The ACT Regulatory Authority, Children’s Education and Care Assurance (CECA) is authorised under the Education and Care National Law and the Children and Young People Act 2008 to receive complaints about education and care services operating in the ACT (including long day care, outside school hours care, government, and non-government preschools).
An approved provider must notify CECA of any complaints alleging that:
- the safety, health or wellbeing of a child or children was or is being compromised while being educated and cared for by the approved education and care service; or
- the National Law and/or National Regulations have been contravened.
Direct complaints can also be made to CECA by anyone other than the approved provider.
In circumstances where the information provided in a complaint alleges possible offences against the National Law, CECA may investigate the allegations.
CECA’s scope excludes complaints that relate to issues such as fees, waiting lists or priority of access to services.
Fee setting is a business decision made by individual education and care services. If families have any concerns regarding the fees charged by a service, they should seek their own legal advice. Parents may also contact their state or territory consumer affairs or fair-trading departments. Please find links to Access Canberra Fair Trading/ Consumer Rights unit at: Fair trading and consumer rights - Access Canberra (act.gov.au) 
You may have concerns regarding the safety, health or wellbeing of children, or the behaviours and practices of staff at an education and care service and want to make a complaint.
Your complaint may be about:
- the approved provider or licensee of the service
- any person who controls or manages the service
- or a staff member at the service
In some circumstances it is more appropriate in the first instance to raise the issues directly with the service.
You may also choose to make direct contact with CECA via the complaints dedicated telephone line (02) 6207 7581 or email complaintsCECA@act.gov.au
When you lodge a complaint, CECA will:
- acknowledge your complaint
- contact you if we require further information
- aim to resolve your complaint promptly
- provide you with a written response that is clear and informative
- help you contact the right person if you are not satisfied with the outcome of your complaint